Location Map

Avalanche Observations

Details

Winds were blowing very strongly out of the south. The group was gathered on the top of Right Peak above Castle Lake. One skier decided to duck under a cornice out of the wind. As he dropped below the cornice, he triggered a small avalanche in which he was carried for about 5 feet before coming to rest in a small clump of trees where the slope angle was not as steep. The wind slab slid on the old snow surface. About 4 inches of snow had fallen but loaded on the westerly aspect to twice that amount, approx 8-10 inches.

Photos

Characteristics

Avalanche Type:

DrySlab

Trigger type:

Skier

Slope:

35degrees

Aspect:

Northwest

Elevation:

6 200ft.

Terrain:

Near Treeline

Weak Layer:

Storm Snow

Bed Surface:

Old Snow

Crown Height:

Less than 1 ft

Avalanche Width:

100ft.

Avalanche Length:

500ft.

Number of people caught:

1

Number of partial burials:

0

Number of full burials:

0

Weather Observations

Details

Very windy, heavy snow, poor visibility. Winds were out of the west at 0900 and then switched to southwest/south at about 10 to 1030 hrs. Active wind loading and cross loading of slopes.